Wayne State University Athletics

Award Winners (left to right): Briana Vojinov, Adam Hafeli, Makayla Sumrall, Ransom Allen, Mikayla Williams, Makenzie Wellner, Ashley Defrain (Ash Goldyn).

Women's Cross Country 12/23/2022 8:34:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Cross Country and Track & Field Teams Hand Out Season Awards

DETROIT -- With the 2022 calendar year coming to a close next week, the Wayne State University cross country and track & field squads handed out awards to standout student-athletes.

In women's cross country, freshman Briana Vojinov (Brownstown, Mich. / Woodhaven) was named Newcomer of the Year. Vojinov earned Second Team All-GLIAC recognition, then placed 49th at the NCAA Midwest Regional followed by a 73rd-place finish at the NCAA Division 2 Championship meet, helping WSU equal its second-best finish in program history.

The women's cross country Athlete of the Year award went to Ashley Defrain (Ash Goldyn). An NCAA All-Midwest Region honoree as well as First Team All-GLIAC, Defrain was WSU's top runner at the NCAA Division 2 Championship meet finishing 51st.

On the men's side, freshman Adam Hafeli (Lake Orion, Mich) collected Newcomer of the Year honors after finishing off a solid opening campaign. He competed in six races during the season, placing 28th at the Warrior Challenge and 40th at the GLIAC Championship meet. Hafeli also ran at the NCAA Midwest Regional meet.

The men's cross country Athlete of the Year for the third consecutive season was Ransom Allen (Ithaca, Mich.). Allen produced one of the finest campaigns in program history, breaking the school NCAA Championship meet finish by placing ninth. He was also First Team All-GLIAC along with being an NCAA All-Midwest Region honoree. In seven races this past fall, Allen never finished lower than seventh until the NCAA Championship meet when he earned All-America accolades for the second straight year.

In track & field, the track Athlete of the Year award went to junior Makayla Sumrall (Roseville, Mich.), who had a strong season for the Warriors. During the indoor season, she received USTFCCCA All-Region honors for the 60m dash. Sumrall was WSU's lone qualifier for the national championships (60m dash) placing 15th in a time of 7.58. She earned Honorable Mention All-America accolades with a ninth-place finish in the 100m dash at the NCAA Outdoor Championships after qualifying for the finals with a school record time of 11.61 in the NCAA prelims (finished ninth after being seeded 17th). The 2022 GLIAC Female Track Athlete of the Meet, Sumrall won GLIAC titles in both the 100m dash (broke GLIAC Championship meet record) and 200m dash (in an NCAA Provisional time of 24.34).

Junior Mikayla Williams (St. Charles, Mich.) was named field Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. A GLIAC All-Academic Excellence honoree, Williams won the triple jump at the GLIAC Indoor Championships and finished fifth in the long jump. At the 2022 GLIAC Outdoor Championships, she won the long jump competition on day one with a season-best distance, then claimed the triple jump the next day with a school-record mark of 11.80m. In addition, Williams received USTFCCCA All-Region honors for having one of the top five triple jump marks in the Midwest Region.

The track and field Newcomer of the Year was freshman Makenzie Wellner (Menominee, Mich.). At the GLIAC Indoor Championships, she ran anchor on the second place 4x400m relay and posted a season-best time for 400m in the GLIAC prelims, then finished fifth in the finals. Wellner was selected GLIAC Female Freshman Track Athlete of the Meet at the Outdoor Championships. She won the 400m hurdles event in a school record time, then anchored the winning 4x400m relay.

Finally, the Warrior Award went to Ashley Defrain (Ash Goldyn). The award is given to an athlete who embodies the Warrior spirit in more ways than just performing on the track. Those other qualities include having a positive attitude, showing perseverance and overcoming obstacles when facing life's challenges. She returned for a fifth year after battling injuries. Defrain finished fourth in the 5K race at 2022 GLIAC Outdoor Championships, then was WSU's top finisher at three of the final four cross country meets including the NCAA Midwest Regional and the NCAA Division 2 Championship meet.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Ransom Allen: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

Adam Hafeli: 5' 8"; Freshman

Ashley Defrain: Distance; 5' 4"; Redshirt Senior; 5-Indoor/3-Outdoor

Makayla Sumrall: Sprints; 5' 5"; Senior; 4-Indoor/3-Outdoor

Makenzie Wellner: Sprints/Hurdles; 5' 8"; Sophomore; 2-Indoor/2-Outdoor

Mikayla Williams: Jumps; 5' 7"; Senior; 4-Indoor/3-Outdoor

Briana Vojinov: Distance; 5' 7"; Freshman; 1-Indoor/1-Outdoor

Players Mentioned

Ransom Allen
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Junior

Adam Hafeli
: 5' 8"; Freshman

Ashley Defrain
: 5' 4"; Redshirt Senior; 5-Indoor/3-Outdoor
: Distance

Makayla Sumrall
: 5' 5"; Senior; 4-Indoor/3-Outdoor
: Sprints

Makenzie Wellner
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; 2-Indoor/2-Outdoor
: Sprints/Hurdles

Mikayla Williams
: 5' 7"; Senior; 4-Indoor/3-Outdoor
: Jumps

Briana Vojinov
: 5' 7"; Freshman; 1-Indoor/1-Outdoor
: Distance